第 5 节
作者:散发弄舟      更新:2024-01-16 22:40      字数:9322
  stage in hushed expectancy。
  What sound is that which echoes through the wood?                     Is it the reedy
  note of an oaten pipe? Perchance a minute more will see the brood                         Of
  the shaggy forest god; and on his lip Will rest the rushes he is wont to play。
  His train in woven baskets bear ripe fruit             And weave a dance with ropes
  of gray acorns; So light their touch the grasses scarcely sway                 As they the
  measure tread to the lilting flute。         Alas! 't is only Fancy thus adorns。
  A  cloud   drifts   idly  over the   shining   sun。    How  damp   it seems;   how
  silent; still; and strange! Surely 't was here some tragedy was done;                   And
  here the chorus sang each coming change? Sure this is deep in some sweet;
  southern wood;         These are not pines; but cypress tall and dark;              That is
  no   thrush   which   sings   so   rapturously;   But   the   nightingale   in   his   most
  passionate   mood        Bursting     his   little  heart  with  anguish。     Hark!     The
  tread of sandalled feet comes noiselessly。
  The silence almost is a sound; and dreams              Take on the semblances of
  finite   things;   So   potent   is   the   spell   that   what   but   seems Elsewhere;   is
  lifted   here   on   Fancy's   wings。 The   little   woodland   theatre   seems   to   wait;
  All tremulous   with hope and   wistful   joy;          For  something that   is   sure  to
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  come   at   last;   Some   deep   emotion;   satisfying;   great。     It   grows   a   living
  presence; bold and shy;         Cradling the future in a glorious past。
  The Road to Avignon
  A   Minstrel     stands   on   a  marble    stair;  Blown     by   the  bright   wind;
  debonair; Below lies the sea; a sapphire floor; Above on the terrace a turret
  door Frames a lady; listless and wan; But fair for the eye to rest upon。 The
  minstrel plucks at his silver strings; And looking up to the lady; sings:
  Down       the  road    to  Avignon;           The    long;    long   road   to   Avignon;
  Across the bridge to Avignon;              One morning in the spring。
  The octagon tower casts a shade Cool and gray like a cutlass blade; In
  sun…baked vines the cicalas spin; The little green lizards run out and in。 A
  sail dips over the ocean's rim; And bubbles rise to the fountain's brim。 The
  minstrel   touches   his   silver   strings; And   gazing   up   to   the   lady;   sings:
  Down       the  road    to  Avignon;           The    long;    long   road   to   Avignon;
  Across the bridge to Avignon;              One morning in the spring。
  Slowly she walks to the balustrade; Idly notes how the blossoms fade
  In the sun's caress; then crosses where The shadow shelters a carven chair。
  Within its curve;   supine she lies; And wearily closes   her tired eyes。 The
  minstrel   beseeches   his   silver   strings;   And   holding   the   lady   spellbound;
  sings:          Down      the  road   to  Avignon;         The     long;   long   road   to
  Avignon;          Across     the   bridge   to  Avignon;         One     morning     in  the
  spring。
  Clouds sail over the distant trees; Petals are shaken down by the breeze;
  They fall on the terrace tiles like snow; The sighing of waves sounds; far
  below。 A  humming…bird kisses   the  lips   of   a  rose Then laden   with   honey
  and love he goes。 The minstrel woos with his silver strings; And climbing
  up to the lady; sings:          Down the road to Avignon;               The long; long
  road to Avignon;            Across the bridge to Avignon;               One  morning in
  the spring。
  Step   by   step;   and   he   comes   to   her;   Fearful   lest   she   suddenly   stir。
  Sunshine and silence; and each to each; The lute and his singing their only
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  speech;   He   leans   above   her;   her eyes   unclose; The   humming…bird   enters
  another rose。 The minstrel hushes his silver strings。 Hark!            The beating of
  humming…birds'       wings!       Down      the  road   to  Avignon;        The    long;
  long road to Avignon;          Across the bridge to Avignon;            One morning
  in the spring。
  New York at Night
  A near horizon whose sharp jags            Cut brutally into a sky Of   leaden
  heaviness;   and   crags   Of   houses   lift   their   masonry Ugly   and   foul;   and
  chimneys lie And snort; outlined against the gray             Of lowhung cloud。        I
  hear the sigh The goaded city gives; not day Nor night can ease her heart;
  her anguished labours stay。
  Below; straight streets; monotonous;         From north and south; from east
  and west; Stretch glittering; and luminous          Above; one tower tops the rest
  And     holds  aloft  man's    constant   quest:  Time!    Joyless    emblem   of    the
  greed     Of   millions;  robber of the   best Which   earth   can give;  the   vulgar
  creed Has seared upon the night its flaming ruthless screed。
  O Night!     Whose soothing presence brings           The quiet shining of the
  stars。 O Night!     Whose cloak of darkness clings          So intimately close that
  scars    Are hid from our own eyes。         Beggars By day; our wealth is having
  night    To burn our souls before altars Dim and tree…shadowed; where the
  light Is shed from a young moon; mysteriously bright。
  Where art thou hiding; where thy peace?             This is the hour; but thou
  art   not。   Will   waking   tumult   never   cease? Hast   thou   thy   votary   forgot?
  Nature forsakes this man…begot And festering wilderness; and now                   The
  long still hours are here; no jot Of dear communing do I know; Instead the
  glaring; man…filled city groans below!
  A Fairy Tale
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  On winter nights beside the nursery fire We read the fairy tale; while
  glowing   coals   Builded   its   pictures。     There   before   our   eyes   We   saw   the
  vaulted hall of traceried stone Uprear itself; the distant ceiling hung With
  pendent stalactites like frozen vines; And all along the walls at intervals;
  Curled upwards into pillars; roses climbed; And ramped and were confined;
  and   clustered   leaves   Divided   where   there   peered   a   laughing   face。   The
  foliage seemed to rustle in the wind; A silent murmur; carved in still; gray
  stone。   High   pointed   windows   pierced   the   southern   wall   Whence   proud
  escutcheons flung prismatic fires To stain the tessellated marble floor With
  pools of red; and quivering green; and blue; And in the shade beyond the
  further   door;   Its   sober   squares   of   black   and   white   were   hid   Beneath   a
  restless; shuffling; wide…eyed mob Of lackeys and retainers come to view
  The   Christening。 A  sudden   blare   of   trumpets;   and   the   throng About   the
  entrance parted as the guests Filed singly in with rare and precious gifts。
  Our     eager   fancies    noted   all  they   brought;     The   glorious;    unattainable
  delights! But always there was one unbidden guest Who cursed the child
  and left it bitterness。
  The fire falls asunder; all is changed; I am no more a child; and what I
  see   Is   not   a   fairy   tale;   but   life;   my   life。   The   gifts   are   there;   the   many
  pleasant     things:   Health;    wealth;   long…settled     friendships;    with   a  name
  Which honors all who bear it; and the power Of making words obedient。
  This is much; But overshadowing all is still the curse; That never shall I be
  fulfilled by love! Along the parching highroad of the world No other soul
  shall bear mine company。 Always shall I be teased with semblances; With
  cruel impostures; which I trust awhile Then dash to pieces; as a careless
  boy Flings a kaleidoscope; which shattering Strews all the ground   about
  with   coloured   sherds。   So   I   behold   my   visions   on   the   ground   No   longer
  radiant; an ignoble heap Of broken; dusty glass。                And so; unlit; Even by
  hope   or   faith;   my   dragging   steps   Force   me   forever   through   the   passing
  days。
  Crowned
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  You came to me bearing bright roses;            Red like the wine of your heart;
  You   twi